Developing routines is a powerful and effective parenting strategy. Routines—dependable, straightforward ways of handling the activities of day-to-day family life—are wonderful for keeping homes manageable and peaceful (at least as peaceful as a house full of children can be). Education experts have found that children thrive on structure. Even the most free-spirited, independent kids do best when they're given clear limits and understand what's expected of them. This is where routines come in.

With this Parent Guide, parents will learn which routines and habits will give their child a foundation for success in school and in life and find out how to implement them. Among the 25 ideas, it provides guidance on how strict or flexible to be about routines, how to introduce a routine and when to change a routine. Routines covered include: bedtime, meal-time, homework, morning, chores, after-school, TV, holidays, safety, reading, separation, sibling rivalry, school and more! This Parent Guide will help you help parents give their youngsters loving, predictable consistency that experts say is one of the keys to success.